San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-11-24
From One Of Our Hunting Parties.


KERRvuLE. Nov. H. 1887.
We left San Marcos for the upper coun-
try just week ago to-day, arriving at
Blanco at 6 p. m.
Our next stopping place, the ranch of Mr..
Peter Woods, Is miles west of Blanco, was
reached about noon next duy. This neigh
borhood is known as Mountain Glen, and is
as picturesque and romantic locality as
can be found in Texas. It is on the head
waters of the Blanco, which is here mere
mountain brook. Along this valley many
good farms of from 25 to 100 acres are in
cultivation.
Those who have enjoyed the scenery on
the backbone near the Comal county line in
Hays county, can form some idea of this
country.
Contrary to our expectations we found
no cedar on the upper Blanco. the hills are
covered with brush, chiefly red oak, though
some are nearly devoid of any kind of tim
Der. The valleys, where they are of any
width are covered with post oak, and at the
head of many of the hollows between the
hill ridges may be found lasting springs
of water.
Mr.. Woods ranch lies on both sides of
the river which ensures On abundance of
water. We found Mr.. @. q. Montgomery
engaged in shaping things up about the
premises and the fair and amiable Miss
Jeffie Woods of San Marcos, duly installed
as mistress of the mansion. Miss Woods is
teaching the Mountain Glen school, and
seems to greatly enjoy the management of
her little flock This is not her first ex-
perience in the mountains, as she taught
the same school before
There is fine apple orchard OF the head
springs of the river owned by Judge G. v.
Gates, who has trees Is years old which
we're loaded with fruit this year. The
orchard is watered by some half dozen ever
lasting springs.
| After several days of preparation our
party started for Kerrville. One of our
crowd is an old mountaneer and bear hunt
err, and On unerring shot with the rifle, and
the prospect seems fair that we will at least
have plenty of fresh meat in camp.
| We arrived here Monday afternoon, after
passing through the beautiful valleys of
Grape and Block creeks and the Guadalupe.
Grape creek is almost entirely German
community, and has country store, dance
hail. etc. 1t is o fine rich valley, and the
improvements bear testimony to the thrifty
industry of the people. Many of the peo-
pie have good stone houses and out build
ings. Water IS generally secured by driv-
ing wells.
Block creek, next on the road, is in the
main an American settlement and is dotted
with we'll improved farms,
Comfort, the next stopping place, Is
purely German, as much so as the Father
land ITSELF Here we enter the magnificent
valley of the Guadalupe, which is frequent
ly two and three miles broad and contains
farms as rich and productive as those of the
San Marcos valley. Surrounded as it is by
an amphitbeatre, as it were, of hills several
hundred feet in height with the river wind
ing through the centre of the valley 1t pre-
sents beautiful scene. At Comfort we
strike the S. A. & A. P, railroad which fol-
lows the valley to Kerrvile. We noticed 4
saloons in full blast at Comfort but no
churches.
At Centre Point we met Mr.. s. j. Thorn
as and Miss Ella Horn, his niece. There Is
good school of $50 pupils and three
churches, Christian, Baptist and Methodist,
at Centre Point We found Mr.. Thomas
the same jovial gentleman as of yore, and
as young as ever.
AT Kerrvllle, ten miles further on, we
found the delightful mountain scenery un-
surpassed for health and destined to become
the health resort of all Southwestern Texas.
Here we met Mr.. Irwin and Jim Horn, ex-
San Marcoans, finding both in good health
and spirits. The large commodious hotel,
we are informed, is unable to accommodate
the influx of visitors and health seekers
coming to this point. sale of town lots
takes place here tomorrow, We understand
they are rated at about $500.
But your readers have been previously
informed about KerrvIlle and its surround
ings and have not time 10 write more at
present NIA'Eho
Nueces.
WARxER's Log Cabin Remedies-old-fash-
cd. simple compounds, used in the days of